KOTA KINABALU: Delays in repatriating illegal immigrants from the Philippines is due to restrictions by their home country, says Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud.

       The Immigration Department director-general said the Asean neighbour only allowed 20 to 30 of its citizens to be deported during the pandemic period.

       He noted there were about 5,000 illegal immigrants at the Immigration depots who needed to be sent home as soon as possible.

       But the countries concerned said they did not have enough space to accommodate their deported citizens if there were too many, Khairul Dzaimee said.

       “Not only the Philippines but other countries such as Indonesia also gave the same reason,” he told reporters after witnessing an operation at a squatter settlement in Likas here early yesterday.

       Khairul Dzaimee said the deportation of illegal immigrants was ongoing not only from depots in Sabah but also from other parts of the country.

       He revealed that the deportation of illegal immigrants from the Philippines and Indonesia were relatively slow, while those from India and Pakistan were faster.

       He said they expected to speed up the deportation of Filipinos at a faster rate after discussions with Philippine authorities.

       “We expect about 850 illegal immigrants from the Philippines to be sent back to their country for each trip in the near future,” he said, adding that if the Philippines required Covid-19 test conditions for deportees, the cost would be borne by their families.

       On another note, he said a new site for the construction of a Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (CIQS) complex at Nabawan district, near the Malaysia-Indonesia border, had been identified.

       Khairul Dzaimee said the complex would facilitate people’s movement at the country’s border.

       “I went to Pagalungan to see the immigration process there and the area was quite far. I was informed that a more suitable site for the CIQS Complex has been identified,” he said.

       Meanwhile, Sabah Immigration Department director Siti Saleha Habib Yussof said 117 illegal immigrants were arrested during an operation at the squatter settlement in Likas from 12.10am to 2am yesterday.

       A total of 46 adults (12 men and 34 women) together with 71 children were arrested for various immigration offences, including holding no valid travel documents.